Why is Telegram Founder-CEO Pavel Durov Arrested, How Does This Impact India? All You Need to Know

Washington: Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, was arrested in Paris over the weekend.

The arrest was made on the allegations that his platform is being used for illicit activity such as drug trafficking and the distribution of child sexual abuse images.

Telegram Founder and CEO Pavel Durov Arrested from Paris Airport

Durov, who was born in Russia, spent much of his childhood in Italy and is a citizen of France, Russia, the Caribbean island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis and the United Arab Emirates. He was taken into custody at Paris-Le Bourget Airport in France on Saturday after landing from Azerbaijan.

In a statement posted to its platform, Telegram said it abides by EU laws and its content moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving. Durov, the company added, has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe.

Telegram Controversy: All You Need to Know

What is Telegram?

Telegram is an app that allows for one-on-one conversations, group chats and large channels that let people broadcast messages to subscribers. 

Unlike rivals such as Meta's WhatsApp, Telegram's group chats allow as many as 200,000 people, compared to a maximum of 1,024 for WhatsApp. 

Experts have raised concerns that misinformation spreads easily in group chats of this size.

Telegram offers encryption for their communications, but contrary to a popular misconception  this feature is not on by default. Users have to switch on the option to encrypt their chats. It also doesn't work with group chats. That contrasts with rival Signal and Facebook Messenger, where chats are encrypted end-to-end by default.

Telegram says it has more than 950 million active users. It is widely used in France as a messaging tool, including by some officials in the presidential palace and in the ministry behind the investigation into Durov. But French investigators have also found the app has been used by Islamic extremists and drug traffickers.

Telegram was launched in 2013 by Durov and his brother Nikolai. According to Telegram, Pavel Durov supports the app financially and ideologically while Nikolai's input is technological."

Why Was Telegram Head Pavel Durov Arrested?

French media has reported that Durov was detained on an arrest warrant alleging his platform has been used for money laundering, drug trafficking and other offenses. 

As of Monday afternoon, he had not been charged, and few details were available on the investigation.

On Sunday night, a French investigative judge extended Durov's detention order, French media reported on Monday. Under French law, Durov can remain in custody for questioning for up to four days. 

After that, judges must decide to either charge him or release him.

Telegram Issues Statement on Arrest of Founder and CEO

In a statement posted on its platform after his arrest, Telegram said it abides by EU laws, and its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving.

It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform, Telegram's post said. Almost a billion users globally use Telegram as a means of communication and as a source of vital information. We're awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all.

Who is Pavel Durov?

Pavel Durov is a 39-year-old Russian-born entrepreneur and founder of Telegram, a widely-used messaging app that competes with major social media platforms like Meta's WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok.

Durov, who is also the founder of VKontakte, was forced to leave Russia in 2014 after refusing to provide VKontakte's user data to Russian security services.

The Russian-born founder of Telegram, which has nearly 900 million users, is currently based in Dubai. He became a French citizen in 2021.

‘Mysterious Woman’ Linked to Pavel Durov's Arrest

As the French Police on Saturday arrested Pavel Durov, the CEO of the messaging App ‘Telegram’, from the Le Bourget Airport, the spotlight is on a mysterious girl, who was also reportedly arrested with Durov at the airport. 

Reports suggested that the mysterious woman identified as Juli Vavilova, who is believed to be his girlfriend, is suspected to be the reason for the arrest of Telegram’s CEO, Durov.

Several theories are spiralling on social media platforms, which suggest that the mysterious woman Juli Vavilova may have been under the surveillance of law enforcement agencies, which resulted in the arrest of Durov. 

Alternatively, she may have inadvertently drawn attention to herself and Durov, or perhaps she was even a willing participant in the events leading up to his arrest.

Effects of Telegram Controversy on India

In light of Telegram Chief Pavel Durov's arrest in Paris for offences related to his messaging app, IT Ministry has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs for an update on where things stand in the Indian context and if there are any violations here as well, sources said.

Sources, meanwhile, said, "In light of what has happened in France, IT Ministry has asked Ministry of Home Affairs to check on complaints pending against Telegram and what action can be taken."

Asked if Telegram, being a messaging app, can cite safe harbour clause, sources said in that case they will have to collaborate with law enforcement agencies, provide information where needed and assist with any investigation.

The Indian government is investigating the involvement of Telegram in the recent NEET-UG paper leak, according to sources who spoke with Republic.

Following a statement made by the Education Minister during the crisis, the Ministry of Education filed a complaint with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY). This complaint addressed concerns about the link between the NEET-UG paper leak and the use of the dark web. 

"Following the statement by the Minister during the crisis, there's a complaint we had made to the MEITY on the connection between the NEET-UG paper leak and the use of dark web," sources from the Ministry of Education revealed.

Reactions to Pavel Durov's Arrest and Telegram Controversy

In Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on reports of Durov's arrest in France.

We still don't know what exactly Durov is being accused of, Peskov said Monday during his daily media conference call. We haven't heard any official statements on that matter.

Let's wait until the charges are announced  if they are announced, Peskov said.

Russian government officials have expressed outrage at Durov's detention, with some calling it politically motivated and proof of the West's double standard on freedom of speech. The outcry has raised eyebrows among Kremlin critics: in 2018 Russian authorities themselves tried to block Telegram but failed, withdrawing the ban in 2020.

Elsewhere, Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X who has called himself a  free speech absolutist, has been speaking out in support of Durov and posted #freePavel following the arrest.

In France's first public comment on the arrest, Macron posted on the social media platform X that his country “is deeply committed” to freedom of expression but “freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights.” He said the arrest “is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter.”

(Inputs from AP)